Crist considers run as a Dem; GOP says bring it on

In this Oct. 25 photo, former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist waves to supporters before a campaign speech by President Obama in Tampa. Crist left the Republican party in 2010 during an unsuccessful run for Senate.

The Associated Press

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON / AP Political Writer

Published: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 04:23 PM.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Now that former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is a Democrat, pretty much everyone in Florida’s political world expects him to seek his old seat.

“I will consider it, and I will think about it,” Crist said by phone while boating off of Miami and before a planned dinner with former Democratic governor and Sen. Bob Graham.

Crist revealed his long-anticipated conversion Friday that after more than two years as an independent. He made the announcement on Twitter and included a photo of his new voter registration form that he filled out at the White House.

Earlier Saturday, Republicans gathered for a meeting and said they will be extra motivated to re-elect Gov. Rick Scott if his opponent is Crist, who left the GOP during his 2010 run for Senate.

“Bring it on,” Peter Feaman, the party’s national committeeman, told a room of Republican activists. “That man sat at my house, in my kitchen, at my breakfast table and told me he was a Ronald Reagan Republican. OK, I’m putting my boots on, because guess what? You lied to me.”

Should Crist run, he could become the first person to serve as Florida governor as a Republican and a Democrat. Crist only served one term before choosing to run for Senate instead of re-election.

Republicans, anticipating the switch, have been attacking him for months, running a television ad and scores of press releases pointing out his previous conservative positions as Crist campaigned with President Barack Obama and other Democrats.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Now that former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is a Democrat, pretty much everyone in Florida’s political world expects him to seek his old seat.

“I will consider it, and I will think about it,” Crist said by phone while boating off of Miami and before a planned dinner with former Democratic governor and Sen. Bob Graham.

Crist revealed his long-anticipated conversion Friday that after more than two years as an independent. He made the announcement on Twitter and included a photo of his new voter registration form that he filled out at the White House.

Earlier Saturday, Republicans gathered for a meeting and said they will be extra motivated to re-elect Gov. Rick Scott if his opponent is Crist, who left the GOP during his 2010 run for Senate.

“Bring it on,” Peter Feaman, the party’s national committeeman, told a room of Republican activists. “That man sat at my house, in my kitchen, at my breakfast table and told me he was a Ronald Reagan Republican. OK, I’m putting my boots on, because guess what? You lied to me.”

Should Crist run, he could become the first person to serve as Florida governor as a Republican and a Democrat. Crist only served one term before choosing to run for Senate instead of re-election.

Republicans, anticipating the switch, have been attacking him for months, running a television ad and scores of press releases pointing out his previous conservative positions as Crist campaigned with President Barack Obama and other Democrats.

“I really feel at home. A lot of it was inspired by what Democrats have stood for, and honestly, friends have told me most of my political life, ‘Charlie, you’re really a Democrat and you just don’t know it,” Crist said.

Crist was a moderate governor and met often with Democratic leaders. At dinners in the governor’s mansion, he would include both Republicans and Democrats at his head table. He endeared himself to the teachers union by vetoing a Republican priority bill that would have stripped teachers of tenure and based merit raises on test scores. He also won over many black leaders by championing civil rights issues, prompting one black lawmaker to describe him as the first black governor.

Since leaving the GOP, Crist, who called himself “the people’s governor” while in office, has criticized the party for going too far to the right.

“The leadership of the party lately has gone off the cliff, I wasn’t comfortable enough,” Crist said. “What I love most about our state is our people ... I just have a feeling in my heart right now is that leadership doesn’t appreciate that fact.”

Crist, 56, had a successful career until falling behind Marco Rubio in the 2010 GOP Senate primary. He was a popular governor and considered one of the best campaigners in the state, using his charisma and feel-good messages to win over voters. If he runs, he’ll have better name recognition than any other Democrat seeking the governor’s seat, including former state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who lost to Scott.

Scott’s approval ratings haven’t come close to what Crist had in office. Scott, who never ran for office before spending nearly $80 million of his and his family’s money to win election, isn’t a natural politician. Although he’s made improvements, he can be an awkward speaker, and it has taken a while for him to grow comfortable in the spotlight.

But that doesn’t mean Crist would have an easy time winning. During primary elections, only about 20 percent of voters turn out, and they are the most faithful in the party. Activists on both sides will remember the many elections in which they fought Crist, who often called himself a Ronald Reagan and Jeb Bush Republican.

“We’re going to be ready to play ball,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry, noting that Crist in the past has praised Sarah Palin, criticized Obama and held conservative views on abortion.

And it’s not easy switching parties after reaching political success. Notably, then-Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter sought re-election in 2010 as a Democrat after 30 years in office as a Republican and didn’t make it out of the primary. Then there’s former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, who won office as a Democrat and then lost his 1992 re-election bid as a Republican.

“The strong Democrats are the ones that vote in the non-presidential year, and they’re the ones that are most likely to have a problem with Crist,” said Democratic pollster David Beattie.

Beattie, however, said Crist has been smart about the transition because he got people used to the idea of him being a Democrat. After losing his independent bid for Senate, he began doing public events with Democrats. Then his wife, Carole, switched from Republican to Democrat. Then he began backing Democratic candidates in Florida, then Obama. And he spoke at this year’s Democratic National Convention.

“There are a lot of people who say, ‘Oh, I thought he did that a long time ago,’” Beattie said. “I don’t think he’s stopped campaigning over the last two years.”

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